Signal



SIGNAL Filed yJuly .5, 1929 1 ,-4 shwrs-sheetv '1 l l- HHH l? Il W BGH @-9 5"@ l WZ Patented Nov. 12, 1929 GEORGE ZIN'I', OF WAPAKONEYTA, OHIO SIGNAL Application led July 5, 1929. Serial No. 376,192.

This invention relates to a railroad crossing signal, the general object of the invention being to provide means for not only causing a train to operate signal means placed adjacent the crossing to warn persons at the crossing that a train is approaching, but also to provide means whereby one can tell how close the train is to the crossing so that he will know whether or not he has time to safely pass over-the track.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide both a visual signal and an audible one, both o f which are operatedby a train approaching the crossing.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described7 illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denotelike or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which 1 Figure 1 is an Aelevation of a track at. a crossing, showing the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional -view through the signal carrying casing.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the casing, this view being taken at right angles to Figure 3. K.' Figure 5 is a view, partly in section, of one of the track members.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sec-tion online 7-,7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic View of the circuits. y

In these drawings, the letter A indicates one track and the letter B the other track.

A plurality of switchboxes 1 is located adjacent the outside rail of each track, these boxes being spaced prefer to space the boxes 100 feet apart', Vand the one nearest the crossing maybe 100 feet' from the crossing. A shaft 2 is journaledin each box and extends therefrom and an arm `3 is connected with the outer end of each.

apart,va certain distance. I.

shaft. This arm extends upwardly at i an. angle toward the crossingand each arm is composed of a lower part 3 which is hollow, and an 'upper part 3 which telescopes the lower part, with a rod 4 connected with the upper part and extending Ainto the lower part, where it is formed with a head which is engaged bya spring 5 in the lower part which holds the upper part in raised position. Thus when a train approaches the' crossing, its wheels, striking thearms, will lower the same and thus rock the shafts, but a train leaving the crossing will simply engage the top partof each arm and depress the same against the action of the spring` 5 so that the arm will not rock'the shaft. A substantially semi-circular member 6 is fastened to the inner end of each shaft and a spring 7 is connected to one part of this member and to a part of the box, this spring tending to hold the shaft with the arm Bin raised position. 'An insulated contact 8 is carried by another part'of the member 6 and when the shaft is rocked by the passage of a Atrain toward the crossing, this contact will strike a spring switch' arm 9 and cause it'to engage a second arm 10 and thus close a circuit 11 of a' lamp 12 and a pair of magnets 13. These magnets attract`an-armature 14 to which is attached a bell hammer 15 of a large bell 16. This bell is so arranged that it will be engaged by the hammers of all the magn'ts. This bell and the sockets 17 of the lamps are arranged in a circular casing'18 mounted on a'post 19- located adjacent the crossing. The lamps extend through holes formed inthe periphery .of the casing and each lamp is covered by a cap-like globe 20 -which is detachably connected with the casing.- v.

The track members for each track are electrically connected with the lamps and magnets, as will be seen from Figure 1. From the foregoing it will be seen that as -a'train approaches the crossing., it will first strike the armfarthest from the crossing andv thusclose the switch of one ofthe lamp cir- -cuits and themagnets in said circuit so that one of the lamps will be lighted and the bell will be struck by one of the hammers.' Then the train will engagethe next arm and thus another lamp will be lightened and the bell struck by another'hammer and this operation will be repeated until all the lamps have been lighted progressively. Thus one can. tell by 'fg watching the lamps how far a train is from the crossing and whether or not he has time to pass over the same.l An extra lamp 21 is arranged at the top of the casing and is connected by the conductor 22 with the battery C or other source of supply. This lamp remains lighted allthe time and serves to indicate the signal device. It is thought from the foregoing descrip'- tion that the advantages and novel' features of the invention will be readily apparent. It is to be understood that changes may be "madein the construction and in the, combinationv and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the ,2o scope ofthe appended: claims.. A

-WhatIclaimis:-- f t, 1. A railroad crossing' signal comprising a group of lamps, a bell,v a plurality of hammers for the bell, magnetic means for each hammer,4 a circuit for each lamp and mag.

'netic means and means for'succes's'ively closj ing the fc'rcuits by a train approaching the p crossingl' j 2. Arrailroad; crossing signal comprising '30 a gro'upof lamps,` a-bell, a plurality of' hammers for the bell, magnetic means'for each hammer, a ircui'ttfor each lamp and magf netic means, means for successively closing the circuits by a train approachin the crossing, such means comprising a p urality'of fswitches arranged along the .track infront of the crossing andan arm for operating each A-switch and engagedby apart on a train as the train a preaches the crossing.` 4o 3,4A rai roadfcrossin 'gnal omprising an' upright arrangedl a jacent the crossing,- -a circular casing on the upright, a plurality of lamps carriedfby the casing,'a b ell in thev casing, a plurality of hammers Vforthe bell, magnetic means for operating each-hammer, a circuit for each lamp and magneticmeans and a plurality of swltches arranged along `the trackin front of the crossing, each switch being arranged ina circuit and means' 'for' closing the switches by a train approaching the crossing. f

In testimony whereof I alix my signature. GEORGE ZINT. 

